Roya Rastegar

Roya Rastegar is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in film and cultural studies, currently serving as a Founding Member of the Iranian Diaspora Collective since October 2022. Rastegar has held various roles including Humanities Advisor for ITVS, Curator for American Cinematheque's "Perpetratin' Realism" series, and Editorial Board Member at BlackStar. As a Visiting Scholar and Professor at UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, Rastegar co-teaches graduate courses. Previous positions include Producer at Imagine Entertainment & Television, where notable projects include "Venus as a Boy" and "Cypher." Rastegar's expertise is further demonstrated through significant contributions to programming at Sundance Institute and as Head of Data at Beautycon Media. Educational credentials include a Ph.D. in History of Consciousness from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a B.A. in Economics, Women's Studies, and Mathematics from Wellesley College.